Flow control choke with shutoff seal

A choke for controlling the flow of fluid along a pressurized flow line, the choke comprising:

• a body having a fluid inlet with an inlet axis, a fluid outlet with an outlet axis, the inlet axis being substantially aligned with the outlet axis, a cylindrical chamber within the body, and an inlet flow path to the cylindrical chamber having a flow path axis inclined relative to the inlet axis;
• a stationary outer sleeve secured within the cylindrical chamber within the body, the stationary outer sleeve having a sleeve axis and radially opposing first and second sleeve flowthrough ports therethrough each in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, each of the first and second sleeve flow ports being spaced circumferentially approximately 90.degree. from the flow path axis such that fluid from the fluid inlet impinges the stationary sleeve upon entering the cylindrical chamber and is diverted to the circumferentially spaced first and second sleeve flowthrough ports;
• a rotary inner sleeve rotatably mounted within the stationary outer sleeve and rotatable about the sleeve axis, the rotary inner sleeve including radially opposing third and fourth sleeve flow ports therein, the rotary sleeve having an upper closed end an a lower open end in fluid communication with the fluid outlet;
• a valve bonnet removably affixed to the valve body at a location spaced from both the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet for facilitating removal of the stationary outer and the rotary inner sleeve from the body;
• a seal circumferentially surrounding each sleeve flow port in one of the stationary sleeve and rotary sleeve for sealing between the stationary outer sleeve and the rotary inner sleeve when the choke is in a closed position;
• and
• a stem for controlling rotation of the rotary sleeve to selectively adjust the circumferential position of both the first port with respect to the third port and the second port with respect to the fourth port and thereby control the flow of fluid through the choke.

A method of controlling the flow of fluid along a pressurized flow line, the method comprising:

• providing a body having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;
• securing a stationary sleeve within the body, the stationary sleeve having a sleeve axis and radially opposing first and second sleeve flow ports therethrough;
• rotatably mounting a rotary sleeve within the body and rotatable about the sleeve axis, the rotary sleeve including radially opposing third and fourth sleeve flow ports therein;
• forming a flowthrough port in the stationary sleeve for providing fluid communication between the fluid inlet and an outer surface of the rotary sleeve;
• sealing between the stationary sleeve and the rotary sleeve and circumferentially about the sleeve flow ports in one of the stationary sleeve and the rotary sleeve when the choke is in a closed position;
• and
• rotating the rotary sleeve to selectively adjust the circumferential position of both the first port with respect to the third port and the second port with respect to the fourth port to control the flow of fluid through the choke.

A choke for controlling the flow of fluid along a pressurized flow line, the choke comprising:

• a body having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;
• a stationary sleeve secured to the body, the stationary sleeve having a sleeve axis and radially opposing first and second sleeve flowthrough ports;
• a rotary sleeve rotatably mounted with respect to the stationary sleeve and rotatable about the sleeve axis, the rotary sleeve including radially opposing third and fourth sleeve flow ports therein, the rotary sleeve and the stationary sleeve each having a lower open end in fluid communication with the fluid outlet;
• a seal circumferentially surrounding each sleeve flow port in one of the stationary sleeve and rotary sleeve for sealing between the stationary sleeve and the rotary sleeve when the choke is in a closed position;
• one of the stationary sleeve and the rotary sleeve being a radially outer sleeve, and the other of the stationary sleeve and rotary sleeve being a radially inner sleeve;
• a flowthrough port in the outer sleeve for providing fluid communication between the fluid inlet and an outer surface of the radially inner sleeve;
• and
• a stem for controlling rotation of the rotary sleeve to selectively adjust the circumferential position of both the first port with respect to the third port and the second port with respect to the fourth port and thereby control the flow of fluid through the choke.

A choke for controlling the flow of fluid along a pressurized flow line, the choke comprising:

• a body having a fluid inlet with an inlet axis, a fluid outlet with an outlet axis, a cylindrical chamber within the body, and an inlet flow path to the cylindrical chamber having a flow path axis;
• a stationary outer sleeve secured within the cylindrical chamber in the body, the stationary outer sleeve having a sleeve axis and radially opposing first and second flowthrough ports each in fluid communication with the inlet flow path, each of the first and second flowthrough ports being spaced circumferentially from the flow path axis such that fluid from the fluid inlet impinges a solid barrier portion of the stationary outer sleeve extending circumferentially between the first and second flowthrough ports upon entering the cylindrical chamber and is diverted by the solid barrier portion to the circumferentially spaced first and second flowthrough ports;
• a rotary inner sleeve rotatably mounted with respect to the stationary outer sleeve and rotatable about the sleeve axis, the rotary inner sleeve including radially opposing third and fourth flow ports therein, the rotary inner sleeve and the stationary outer sleeve each having an open end in fluid communication with the fluid outlet;
• a seal circumferentially surrounding each flow port in one of the stationary outer sleeve and rotary inner sleeve for sealing between the stationary outer sleeve and the rotary inner sleeve when the choke is in a closed position;
• and
• a stem for controlling rotation of the rotary inner sleeve to selectively adjust the circumferential position of both the first port with respect to the third port and the second port with respect to the fourth port and thereby control the flow of fluid through the choke.